Running Forth to Meet Christ
the resolve to run forth to meet your Christ
with righteous deeds at his coming,
so that, gathered at his right hand, they may be worthy to possess the heavenly Kingdom. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
The new opening prayer for the first Sunday of Advent should call to mind at least two passages of the Bible and inspire us to live lives that will hurry the coming of God’s Kingdom. One of the things that I continue to hope will come about as a result of the New Roman Missal is an increased attention to the words which we use to pray each week. The words above that ask for “the resolve to run forth to meet you Christ” recall first of all for me the story of the Visitation, when Elizabeth runs forth to meet her cousin Mary who is carrying in her womb the Son of God. As we begin the season of Advent we should remember that the time of his arrival grows near. We might also hear these words and think of the parable of the ten virgins, five who were wise and prepared themselves with oil for their lamps, in other words they prepared with righteous deeds that allowed their light to shine into the world. This prayer also should call to mind the day of judgment when God will separate those who have served Him in others from those who have not. Our hope is to be among those “gathered at his right hand”.
As we begin this season of preparation, let us resolve ourselves to the things that will allow us to truly welcome Christ more fully as we celebrate His Incarnation in just a few short weeks.
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